Talking-motion-picture apparatus



June 26, 1928. 1,675,122

' J. MERZON TALKILNG MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS` Filed Jan. 8, 1927 Patented June 26, 19,28.

PMI-:Nr OFFICE.

JAcoB MnRzoN, or lNaw yoax, N. Y.

TALKING-MOTIQN-PICTURE APPARATUS.

i' Application vled January 8, 1927. Serial No. 159,757.

lThis invention relates to motion picture machines and moreparticularly to types con'- junctively operated with talking machines.

One ofgthe objects .of this invention is to provide means for recording or reproducing "sound simultaneously with projecting inotion pictures. Y Another object is4 in the provision of means whereby the sound producing ma-. chine may bestopped at predetermined intervals while the lmotion pictures continue to operate, sothat whena character has ceased to emit voice 'its ractions are still recorded on the picture reel.

A still further. aim is in the provision of apparatus whereby the necessity of flashing vwords on a screen is avoided, the device' in-J stead actually sounding V.the words as they are spokenzbgtthezeharacters on the screenl These and other important objects-which' will become apparent as the description progi'esses, are accomplished bythe noyel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described and illustratedIA in the vaccompanying drawing, forming a material part ofv this disclosure, and in which:- v I Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a talking motion `picture apparatus, made in accordance with the invention, and showing the manner of electrically connecting fthe,-

saine, part of the'picture machine casing being roken away to illustrate-'the inner construction.

`Figure 2 is a fragmentary partial side ele vational, p artial longitudinal sectional View of, a tape actuated switch drawn'to an enarged scale.

.Figure 3 is a transverselsectional view of the same.

Figure 4 is a perspective view. of the stationary element of the switch.

The numeral 10 designates a table pro vided with Wheels 11 and a cross-support 12 intermediate the legs.

Fixed on the table is a U-shaped bracket. 13 in which are formed pairs of bearings 14 and 15, one of the bearings 14 being split and hinged, to be held in operative positions by a wing nut 16 engaging a bolt 17 passing through ilangesl formed on the sections of the bearing. WW Y ,y n

rllie bearings 1 5 are connected by guide rod 19 on which is movable a-slide 2O having a conventional reproducingT instrument 21 at right angles thereto, provided with needle belt 29 also trained over a 22 to transmit vibrations to the diaphragm of the reproducer, the same being connected by a flexible tube 23 to a horn or sound box 24.

The needle 22 engages a large cylindrical record 25 removably-engageable on a roller 2 6 similarly journalled in the bearings 14.

lliXed on one extending end ot the roller 26 is'a crank handle 2T and a pulley 28 so that the record 25 may be rotated either by hand or in a manner to be later described,

Trained over the pulley 28 is an endless pulley 30 fixed on the shaft- 31 of an electric motor 32 secured on the support 12, one terminal of the motor being connected by a lead 33 to a source of electrical energy 34.

The other terminal of the motor is connected by av'ire 35 to a post 36 engaging a spring contact 37 fixed on a` flange 38 of an insulating sleeve 39 having a square opening 4() by which the sleeve is secured on a bolt 41 engaged by a nut 42, the bolt extending outwardly from one of the side walls 43 of a motion picture machine -44 on a support-44.

Avsimilar post and spring contact is oppo` sitely disposed on the flange 38 and is connected by a'w'ire 45 to the free terminal of the source of electrical energy 34.

Rotatab'lef on theJ sleeve 39 intermediate the langef38 and wall 43, is a collar 45 of similar material to the sleeve, provided with a plurality of paired lugs 47 carrying therebetween rollers 48 and pinned at 49 to the collar is a m'tal disc 50 having oppositely disposed projecting conductors 51 engageable with the contactsl 37.

The motion picture machine 44 includes the usual supply and take-up reels 52 and 53 respectively and a lilm 54 movable from the reel 52 to the reel 53 between a. pair of similar rectangular frames 55 hinged at 58 to the wall 43.

The shafts supporting the reels 52 and 53 extend beyond the wall 43 and carry supply and take-up reels 57 and58 respectively. provided with a tape 59 passing over the collar 46, `the tape being provided with predetermined openings 60 reenforced by grommets 51.

The reel 58 may be rotated by a handle 52 or the tape 59 may be operated from a motor (not shown) connected by a belt 53 to a p ley 64 liited on the shaft carrying the ree Thus in o eration the voice or the actors.:

and their movements may Vor may not be recorded simultaneously, as desired.

In either case, the tape 59, which is'intact at they start, s operated simultaneously with' the rotationof the/record 25.

The Yvoice is recorded inthe usual manner,I the soundl entering the horn 24, passingtlirough the 'reprodu'cer 21 and being inipressed upon the record 25 by the vibration of the needle 22.

During'the enactment, Whenever there is a stop in the voice, thev operator makes a mark on the tape 59 and -the play goes on untilv it is .again desired to record sound, at

sound, but instead merely go through thev motionsv in accordance and time with the impressions on the record 25'.

When the vfilm is projected, it is operated simultaneously with the tape 59 and the talking machine is placed out of sight behind the screen.

Thus, when the-character'on the screen is about to talk, one vof the vpredetermined. ope-nings 60 in the tape 59 engages one of the pleting thecircuit to operate the motor 32,' 40

'Whenthat character f :another predetermined opening inthe tape, .4

rollers 48, revolving-the collar 46 so that the conductors 51 engage the contacts 37 come hence-to rotate the record and reproduce the vejice correspondingjto `the characters on the screen.

finishes talking,

operates the collar to break the motor circuit and so stop-the talkingmacliin'e'.

- ferred form, it is to be understood that the same is merely descriptive and it is not to be From the lforegoing, the construction and operation of a simple means for combining, motion pictures and a talking machine, hasV been disclosed, and although ,the apparatus has been'depicted and delineated in its preinterpretediii a limiting sense, since changes in construction and details thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit o r scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what i I; claim as .new and desire to secure by Letters 1..A talking 'motion picture apparatus comprising in combination .with a reproducing instrument of the cylindrical record type and, a motion picture exhibiting machine, of means intermediate said instrument and machine for causing said instrument to operate in accordance with the showings on the screen of said machine, said means including a non-metallic tape -having "ie enforced openings at predetermined'points, an electric motor to drive said'instrument, means for driving said machine and tape synchronously, a rotatable switch` in the. electriccircuit vto the motor, and projections on said switch engageable-in the openings of said strip t alternately open'and close the switch thereby snychronizing said instrunient with said machine. 2. A talking motion picture comprising in combinationwith a reproducing linstrument of vthe cylindrical record type and a motion picture exhibiting machine, said 4instrument having an electric motor, of a switch in thef'circuit'to. said motor, said 'switch including a collar` rotatable on said machine, rollers rojecting' from said collar,and means inclu ing a per. forate tape operated by said machine-gem gageable 'with said rollers to open. and close said switch, thereby to controlsaid ni'otor in synchronisni-with the projections of y"said machine. Q fj 3. A- talking motion picture apparatuscomprising in combination with a reproducing instrument of the cylindrical record type and a lmotion picture exhibiting machinedriven in synchronism with saidr instrument,.

of an electrical driving means forijsaid instrument including a syvitch having acollar rotatable onsaid machine, rollers projecting apparatus asf from said collar, a pair of reels on said inachine, a predeterminedly perforated tape intermediate said reels independent of the picture film, said filmuand tape being driven in synchronism, said rollers being engageable` in theperforations of Asaid tape a'nd means on said collar to complete an electrical circuit .for actuating said instrument.

A Vtalking motion picture apparatus comprising in combination With a reproducing instrument of the cylindrical record type anda motion picture exhibiting machine, said instrument being electrically .'driven,"'of a switch in the circuit of the driving means intermediate said instrument and machine including a sleeve xed on said ma.- chine, spring contacts on said sleeve, a-collar rotatable on said sleeve, lugs formed on saidcollar and rollers' inteiiiiediate said lugs, and atape driven by said machine and perate said switch by engagement Withl said rollers so that successive .perforations alternately'open and close the circuit.

Signed at New York,- in thecountyfof v foratedin a predetermined mannerto actu- New York and State'of New York, this-14th day of4 December, A.

. JACOB MERZON. 

